In collaboration with the Superintendency of Molise, in September 2011 a new research project has started on the Italic cult place of S. Giovanni in Galdo, Colle Rimontato. The project aims to shed light on the historical development and wider context of the rural sanctuary. After excavations at the cult place by the Superintendency in the 1970’s, the sanctuary and its surroundings have been investigated in detail with a series of intensive off-site field surveys on and around the temple site (2004-2008), which were combined with a re-study of part of the 1970’s excavation finds (2006).

The 2011 campaign has focused on the documentation of the standing architecture of the temple itself as well as on the archaeological remains on the lower terrace in front of the actual cult place.

In this area, a set of roughly cut limestone blocks and other features have been investigated in more detail. A test trench in the SW corner of the lower terrace showed that some of the abovementioned blocks are in alignment with the southern perimeter of the sacred area (i.e. in a E-W orientation). This alignment of blocks seems to have been part of a structure, and has now been excavated over a length of about 2 m. Alongside the blocks the foundation trench for the structure has been excavated. The filling of the trench contained pottery and one coin on the bottom, suggesting a late 2nd or 1st century BC date.